For the last 7 years, the South West region has come together to acknowledge the work of the local community around raising awareness of Child Protection and Safety and keeping kids safe.
This year the dinner will be held at the St Patricks Cathedral Function Centre on Monday 9th September 2024. The venue and date had to be changed to accommodate the record number of nominations and expected attendees.
The 2024 nominees are:
2024 Darling Downs and South West Child Protection Week Nominees
Category 1: A Child Protection or Family Professional, that works collaboratively across agencies in the Child Protection or families sector. (Government and/or Non-Government).
NOMINEES:
- Tracie Nelder – Case Worker Family Intervention Program Mercy
- Sonia Wright – Practice Supervisor – Act for Kids
- Jessica Morgan-Coe – Child Safety Officer Toowoomba North CSSC – Child Safety
- Natalie Murray – Senior Team Leader Toowoomba North CSSC
- Allyson Anderson – Operations Manager Life Without Barriers
- Kathryn McCart – Placement Services Unit – Child Safety
- Terry Bromley – Drug Arm
- Eoin Carey – Practice Supervisor – Act for Kids
- Jo Pointon – Principal Child Protection Practitioner – Child Safety
- Kirsten Wilson– Act for Kids
- Ainsleigh Goodman – Quality Practice and Support Team – Child Safety
- Julie Davey – Senior Practitioner 54 Reasons
- Jo Ellul – Placement Services Unit – Child Safety
- Sonya Kupfer – Manager Toowoomba North CSSC – Child Safety
Category 2: An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander professional, who works collaboratively across agencies in the Child Protection or Families sector to support the aims of keeping Indigenous families connected to Family, Community and Culture. (Government and/or Non-Government).
NOMINEES:
- Joyanne Clark – Carbal
- Tony Savage – Kin, Care and Connection – Child Safety
- Carol Turnbull – Mercy
- Cessa Mainwaring – Lifeline
- Belle Ellis – Youturn
Category 3: A Child Protection or families volunteer, that works collaboratively across agencies in the Child Protection or families sector. (Government and/or Non-Government)
NOMINEES:
- Annette and Leslie (John) Lamb – Foster Carers
- Kim Godfrey – Volunteer
- Janella Cox – Laidley Community Centre
Category 4: A Child Safety, Youth Justice, Families team or office working collaboratively with the community (Government). This award recognises the excellence by a local, state or federal government agency office or team to positively connect with local communities.
NOMINEES:
- South West Kinship Care and Connection Team – Child Safety
- Vulnerable Person’s Unit – Queensland Police Service
- Child Youth Mental Health Service
- Toowoomba Youth Co-Responder Team
- Western Downs Intake and Assessment CSSC – Child Safety
Category 5: An NGO individual or team working collaboratively with the community (Non-Government).
NOMINEES:
- 54 Reasons
- Act for Kids Intensive Family Support Service
- David Campbell – Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor – Carbal
- Eva’s Place
- Anglicare Children and Parenting and Reconnect Team;
- Anglicare Family and Mental Health Support Team
- Foundations Care Equipping Kin Team
- OzChild Treatment Foster Care Oregon Program – Toowoomba
- Toowoomba Region Family Intervention Service Network
Category 6: An individual or team that has made a “significant contribution to a young person’s life through partnership and commitment”. (Government and/or Non-Government).
NOMINEES:
- Jari Branfield-Bradshaw – Youth Support Officer Paroo Shire Council
- Kulila Kindy
- Matthew Cable – Child Safety Support Officer Toowoomba North CSSC – Child Safety
- Strive Community Care Mitchell Program
- Strive Community Care Graman Team
- All Care Australia Team Raceview
- Brooke McLean – All Care Australia
- Toowoomba Residential Youth Work Team – Life Without Barriers
- Adapt Mentoring Service
- Strive Community Care Glengarry Team